You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: September 22, 2010
6.2
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 60 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
29
Mixed:
21
Negative:
10
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User Reviews

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5
nutterjrMar 21, 2011
The worse Woody Allen film I have seen for years, lacking both the venomous and pungent humour he is known for, or the atmospheric and mysterious feel he has developed in his more recent features. The crescendo/irony falls flat and no clearThe worse Woody Allen film I have seen for years, lacking both the venomous and pungent humour he is known for, or the atmospheric and mysterious feel he has developed in his more recent features. The crescendo/irony falls flat and no clear resolution is given to almost all the substories apart from that of Helena. However, a bad Woody Allen film, still has many enjoyable moments and clever twists.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
TVJerryNov 1, 2010
The classic definition for a comedy is not jokes, but a happy ending. The latest from Woody Allen doesn't have much of either. It's a well-told tale that follows two couples (Anthony Hopkins/Genna Jones and Josh Brolin/Naomi Watts) throughThe classic definition for a comedy is not jokes, but a happy ending. The latest from Woody Allen doesn't have much of either. It's a well-told tale that follows two couples (Anthony Hopkins/Genna Jones and Josh Brolin/Naomi Watts) through the tribulations in the relationships. While the are almost no laughs, the characters and their situations amicably pass the time. A cinematic trifle.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
TonyOct 25, 2010
Lucy Punch is the highlight of the film, but there is not a whole lot of appeal in the rest of the performances. The stories feel contrived, and the tone of the film is inconsistent throughout. Very disappointing. And Josh Brolin's hair isLucy Punch is the highlight of the film, but there is not a whole lot of appeal in the rest of the performances. The stories feel contrived, and the tone of the film is inconsistent throughout. Very disappointing. And Josh Brolin's hair is ridiculous-looking and distracting.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
skanteaDec 15, 2010
Look, if you don't like Woody Allen for personal reasons, or if you just don't "get" his movies, then skip this film. If you appreciate the man's work then check this out. The critics almost had me believing he'd finally made a bad movie.Look, if you don't like Woody Allen for personal reasons, or if you just don't "get" his movies, then skip this film. If you appreciate the man's work then check this out. The critics almost had me believing he'd finally made a bad movie. This is very typical Woody Allen, same style as always. All talk, no explosions, and no gore. The story could have used one or two more twists, but then again he is an aging writer and is probably not as interested in being clever as a younger writer would. All in all, woody hasn't changed, and that's good.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
asthobaskoroApr 26, 2011
The only reason why I'm watching this 'cause I'm curious with Woody Allen's movie. Well predictable; boring. At least it's not pointless and has famous star.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
AutiTakahashiJun 5, 2012
"You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" is a comedy for cynics and pessimists. For everybody else, it's a tragedy. The prologue of the protagonists exposes them as people pummeled with problems and worries. However, I must say that this isn't a"You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" is a comedy for cynics and pessimists. For everybody else, it's a tragedy. The prologue of the protagonists exposes them as people pummeled with problems and worries. However, I must say that this isn't a movie about the problems, but the solutions that are stimulated by minds that are stuck in desperation and misery.

Read more here: http://localmoviereview.com/meet-tall-dark-stranger/… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
SpangleJan 7, 2017
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger finds veteran director Woody Allen on autopilot. Essentially a film about people discovering that life is largely meaningless and that delusions keep us happy and willing to move on, the film is pretty bleakYou Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger finds veteran director Woody Allen on autopilot. Essentially a film about people discovering that life is largely meaningless and that delusions keep us happy and willing to move on, the film is pretty bleak and cynical. Starring an ensemble cast of Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones, Antonio Banderas, Lucy Punch, and Freida Pinto, the film's plot is pretty simple. Getting older, a woman's husband leaves her for a call girl in search of meaning and youth. To cope, she begins to meet with a fortune teller. Though those around her tell her that it is not real, she begins to believe in reincarnation and that she will soon meet a "tall dark stranger". By the end of the film, it becomes clear she was the smart one.

Some could interpret this film as slightly anti-religion. Surely, many have declared that religion is merely a delusion. As Allen is an atheist and he has even put religion on the level of fortune tellers, this angle certainly makes sense. Yet, this is simplistic. If anything, Allen is encouraging people to "delude" themselves by believing whatever they want to make themselves happy. While Helena Shepridge (Gemma Jones) is left by her husband, distraught, and lost, she is the only happy character at the end. Meeting a man, Jonathan (Roger Ashton-Griffiths), who owns an Occult bookstore and believes in reincarnation as well, Helena is finally happy after a long time. Their mutual delusions and belief in reincarnation and the power of fortune tellers has left them deeply in love and satisfied with their lives. This cannot be said for any character who has given into lust via the marrying of call girls, leaving their spouses, full-on adultery, are failures, are devious, or just deeply unhappy. Turns out that if they just went to the fortune teller as well, their lives would have been far happier and more fulfilling.

Aside from Helena, everybody else suffers from incredible strife in their lives, but possibly none more than Roy Channing (Josh Brolin). Married to Sally (Naomi Watts), who wants to have sex without contraception in order to have a child, Roy is struggling. He does not want to have a child and is set to give into lust and learn that the grass is always greener on the other side. Or, in his case, the girl is always hotter through the window. A one-hit wonder in the literature world, Roy cannot write anymore and keeps turning out books nobody wants to publish. So, he opts to steal the book of his dead friend and claim it as his own, which of course raises problems when the friend is not dead. He also leaves his wife for Dia (Freida Pinto) because he thought she looked hot through the window. Sadly for Roy, the film ends with him seeing Sally through the window and coming to the realization that she too is attractive. Poor Roy. All self-inflicted of course, but he was one of the most ardent opposers of the fortune teller for Helena. Moral of the story here? Find what makes you happy and do not pick at it. Alfie (Anthony Hopkins), the husband of Helena, suffers from this when he marries a call girl and then wants to get back together with Helena when he realizes she is not a great wife. Roy and Alfie both picked at their happiness is search of something more and to pursue a path they were not meant to pursue. They refused to go with the flow and now wind up as two of the most unhappy characters in the film. In many ways, they tried to live out a life that Allen, at the beginning and end of the film, has already declared is meaningless. If life is pointless, it is better to delude yourself into believing something instead of pursuing meaning and purpose. If you do pursue it, it will leave you lacking anything.

Of course, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is a very philosophical and existential film. Many of Woody's films are and this one is no exception. Yet, it is very fleeting. It drops tid bits of opinions and philosophies and then scurries away. It is not nearly as funny or impactful as his best works and is, at worst, a largely forgettable experience. Within a few weeks, it is likely that this film will escape my mind. Though invariably a good time and some easy, but smart, watching, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is one that only Woody Allen fans should really opt to watch. For those who are not a fan of the guy, this film will really, really suck. Fortunately, his cynicism and existentialism are always incredibly watchable and with great actors doing their thing in a Woody Allen film, this one will never be a totally irredeemable watch. As a whole, the film is flawed, but its story is so engrossing, so odd, and its actors so good, it is hard to look away from.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
hamidgoodarziOct 12, 2022
Woody Allen, the comedian of world cinema, continues to make films and his films are still spectacular. He has had ups and downs in his long filmmaking career, but the common point of his films is the tone of his cinema. This movie (you willWoody Allen, the comedian of world cinema, continues to make films and his films are still spectacular. He has had ups and downs in his long filmmaking career, but the common point of his films is the tone of his cinema. This movie (you will meet a tall dark stranger) shows other aspects of human life and dimensions. His films are related to the culture of his environment, but he has been able to make his works universal with a common language. Although this movie is a romantic comedy, it walks on the border between tragedy and comedy. The film is one of Allen's films that has met with moderate reception from critics.… Expand
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